Putting the ‘man’ in Månstad

UPDATE: Want to see what we think of the couch a year and a half later and see how the room has transformed? Click here.

A few weeks ago, we bought a new couch to replace our beat-up futon in our entertainment room/man cave/guest room. His name is Månstad, and he looks like this:

Considering how many roles the room has, it’s only fitting that Månstad is also quite versatile. Not only does the chaise portion lift up to reveal a roomy storage area, the couch also transforms into a double bed.

Oh Ikea, what will you think of next?

We haven’t had any guests sleep on the sofa bed yet, but Jamie and I recently gave it a try. It was surprisingly roomy and pretty comfortable. The bed was a bit firm, so we might buy a mattress pad (that we can store under the chaise!) to make it more comfy. We were also reminded how bright the room gets in the morning, so curtains are also on the to-do list.

Anyway, back to the couch. At $699, it’s significantly cheaper than any other sectional/sofa beds out there and I’ve read several reviews from people who say that it holds up over time. My only major complaint is the fabric. The color is fine, but the quality isn’t that great and it’s already a magnet for dog fur. I guess “you get what you pay for” really is true.

I found one ambitious DIYer who reupholstered the Månstad in different fabric and the end result looks pretty fabulous. After showing it to Jamie, we both immediately volunteered the other to take on the task. That project might have to wait a while …

In addition to reupholstering, there’s a lot to do in the room. When we first moved in, it was designated Jamie’s “man cave,” since I had taken control of decorating most of the other rooms in the house. But now — three years later — Jamie’s finally given me reign to work on the man cave as well. Success!

It’s a good thing that he relented, because the room needs some work. Right now, it’s a mishmash of posters, DVDs, one too many pieces of Ikea furniture (yes, it’s possible), video game accessories, and a random color palate.

To be honest, the man cave has always seemed like a huge undertaking that I was never quite up to, but good old Månstad has given be renewed motivation to take on the task.

Thankfully, the room has tons of potential. Between the stairwell, slanted ceiling and industrial pipe railing, there’s a lot of architectural character. The space gets tons of light, and we’ve got a growing art collection from friends and family to work with. And its multipurpose function certainly adds a unique challenge.

So hats off to Månstad for giving me the push to finally tackle this room, and hooray for Jamie for giving me the permission to do so. I haven’t decided yet when I’ll get started or what the final result will look like, but you can bet that I’m thinking about it non-stop. In the meantime, I’m gathering lots of inspiration over on Pinterest and would love to hear your ideas for the space as well.

I just got a used Manstad and the cushions were really dirty, I tried everything to clean them and I honestly can’t afford to buy a slipcover ($400+) but I totally found a awesome alternative! Crib sheets! Standard size crib sheets fit perfectly, and I mean perfectly! And I love that the couch now has a punch of colour, that can easily and inexpensively be changed!

hi, stumbled upon your blog by googling manstad — love it!
there are slipcovers at bemz.com starting at $279 and honestly even though I can do upholstery, by the time I buy the fabric, I think that’s a good deal!

Hi Robby! Back when we had the rug in these photos it was fine. Since then, we’ve gotten a bigger rug (pictured here: https://oakdaleonward.com/2012/08/22/now-you-see-it-now-you-dont/) and it’s more difficult to pull out the bottom drawer. The rug often gets caught up in the wheels. We don’t use the bed too often, and we love the rug, so it’s worth the annoyance for us, but I wouldn’t suggest it for someone who plans to pull out the drawer on a regular basis. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much for your lovely blog post! Funnily enough I live in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto, Ontario.

For someone that over thinks everything and I mean EVERYTHING, it is very helpful to hear another person’s experience. It’s definitely making my decision easier. I’ve wanted a sectional for a while and the bonus of a pull out bed is amazing. Since you wrote this almost two years ago, how is the couch holding up? Any regrets? I read online that people were getting a kind of chemically smell from the couch when they first got it, did you experience this?

Hi!! I have the same sofa and I am searching online because I would like my mom to help me make a new cover. I am visiting her in another country and there is no one at home to give me the exact measurements! I have been looking all over the internet and can’t find them! Would you mind sharing those with me so I can make my own? I am excited! Also, I can’t find how yours look like now after you finished the new one! Thanks!